[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 29, Number 40 (Monday, October 11, 1993)]
[Pages 1999-2000]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act

 October 4, 1993

Memorandum for Heads of Departments and Agencies

Subject: The Freedom of Information Act

    I am writing to call your attention to a subject that is of great 
importance to the American public and to all Federal departments

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and agencies--the administration of the Freedom of Information Act, as 
amended (the ``Act''). The Act is a vital part of the participatory 
system of government. I am committed to enhancing its effectiveness in 
my Administration.
    For more than a quarter century now, the Freedom of Information Act 
has played a unique role in strengthening our democratic form of 
government. The statute was enacted based upon the fundamental principle 
that an informed citizenry is essential to the democratic process and 
that the more the American people know about their government the better 
they will be governed. Openness in government is essential to 
accountability and the Act has become an integral part of that process.
    The Freedom of Information Act, moreover, has been one of the 
primary means by which members of the public inform themselves about 
their government. As Vice President Gore made clear in the National 
Performance Review, the American people are the Federal Government's 
customers. Federal departments and agencies should handle requests for 
information in a customer-friendly manner. The use of the Act by 
ordinary citizens is not complicated, nor should it be. The existence of 
unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles has no place in its implementation.
    I therefore call upon all Federal departments and agencies to renew 
their commitment to the Freedom of Information Act, to its underlying 
principles of government openness, and to its sound administration. This 
is an appropriate time for all agencies to take a fresh look at their 
administration of the Act, to reduce backlogs of Freedom of Information 
Act requests, and to conform agency practice to the new litigation 
guidance issued by the Attorney General, which is attached.
    Further, I remind agencies that our commitment to openness requires 
more than merely responding to requests from the public. Each agency has 
a responsibility to distribute information on its own initiative, and to 
enhance public access through the use of electronic information systems. 
Taking these steps will ensure compliance with both the letter and 
spirit of the Act.
                                            William J. Clinton